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Difference between revisions of "A Test Before Trying"

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
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{{Social}}
 
 
{{Tab}}
 
{{Tab}}
{{EpisodePrevNext|Homer Goes to Prep School|Changing of the Guardian}}
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{{EpisodePrevNext|Homer Goes to Prep School|The Changing of the Guardian}}
{{EpisodeHD
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{{Episode
|image=A Test Before Trying promo 3.jpg
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|image=A Test Before Trying promo 3.png
|productionCode= RABF03
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|number=518
|originalAirdate= January 13, 2013
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|season=24
|blackboardText=I will obey Oscar® campaign rules from now on
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|snumber=10
|couchGag=Couch - The Movie
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|prodcode= RABF03
|titlescreen=
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|airdate= January 13, [[2013]]
 +
|titlescreen=A married {{Ch|Radioactive Man}} with [[Libby]] in his arms flies across the screen.
 +
|blackboard=I will obey Oscar® campaign rules from now on
 +
|couchgag=[[The Couch: Don't Get Comfortable]]
 
|billboard=[[Krusty]]: Live from rehab! 8PM
 
|billboard=[[Krusty]]: Live from rehab! 8PM
|specialGuestVoices=[[Valerie Harper]] as the [[Department of Standardized Testing proctor]]
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|guests=[[Valerie Harper]] as [[Jennifer Clarkeson]]
|Show Runner=
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
|Written By= [[Joel H. Cohen]]
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|writer= [[Joel H. Cohen]]
|Directed By=[[Chris Clements]]
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|director=[[Chris Clements]]
|Episode Number=518
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
"'''A Test Before Trying'''" is the tenth episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki> [[Season 24|24th season]]. It first aired on January 13, 2013. This episode is dedicated to [[Huell Howser]], who died on January 7, 2013 of prostate cancer.
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"'''A Test Before Trying'''" is the tenth episode of [[season 24]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the five-hundred and eighteenth episode overall. It originally aired on January 13, [[2013]], The episode was written by [[Joel H. Cohen]] and directed by [[Chris Clements]]. It guest stars [[Valerie Harper]] as [[Jennifer Clarkeson]].
  
 
== Synopsis ==
 
== Synopsis ==
[[Mr. Burns]] hikes up electricity prices, leaving most of Springfield unable to afford to use it as much as before. Springfield's schools cannot afford to use it as much either, and they decide to test every single student, and whichever school has the lowest test scores will close. Springfield Elementary gets the lowest test scores, but [[Lisa]] discovers that one student did not take the test and the school's fate will rely on his test scores: [[Bart]]'s to be precise. Meanwhile, [[Homer]] uses a parking meter he found at [[Springfield Dump|the dump]] to fleece unwitting parkers of their quarters.
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{{Desc|[[Mr. Burns]] hikes up electricity prices, leaving most of [[Springfield]] unable to afford to use it as much as before. Springfield's schools cannot afford to use it as much either, and they decide to test every single student, and whichever school has the lowest test scores will close. [[Springfield Elementary]] gets the lowest test scores, but [[Lisa]] discovers that one student did not take the test and the school's fate will rely on his test scores: [[Bart]]'s to be precise. Meanwhile, [[Homer]] uses a parking meter he found at [[Springfield City Dump|the dump]] to fleece unwitting parkers of their quarters.}}
  
==PLot==
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== Plot ==
Mr. Burns raise electricity prices by 17%. Several residents and businesses in [[Springfield]] needs to start saving their power. The [[Simpson family]] is one of those that throw some of their household electrical items. The [[Springfield Elementary School]] also have problems with their economy after the increase the electricity prices and it is decided that the students of Springfield's district must doing a test and the school with the worst results forced to close. Homer is on the dumptser to the electrical  itmens where he find an old parking meter that he brings homer. The students at Springfield Elementary doing their test and after they the test was corrected was it concluded that school is the worst in the state. The students at Springfield Elementary are starting to sending to other schools in the area when [[Lisa]] finds out that [[Bart]] did not take the test. If he makes the test and pass it, he can raise the result and svaed the school.
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Mr. Burns raises electricity prices by 17%. Several residents and businesses in [[Springfield]] have to start saving their power. The [[Simpson family]] is one, and they decide to throw away some of their household electrical items. [[Springfield Elementary School]] is also having problems after the increase in electricity prices, and it is decided that the students of Springfield's district must take a test, and the school with the worst results will be forced to close.
  
Homer begins to skim the residents of Springfield on money by placing his parking meter. Bart is studying for the test he will doing the next day but he fell asleep and has not learned anything, he tells [[Seymour Skinner]] who makes so he gets an extra study day. Homer watching the news where they report that the police are chasing a person who had did parking scames and Homer realizes that the police are after him. The evening sees Lisa at Bart not studying and she yelling at him for being selfish. Bart falls asleep and dreams that the resident in Springfield are stupid and after he wakes up, he asks Lisa for help. Lisa tell him to answer what he thinks first if he not think of something he should answer B. Marge visit the Kwik-E-Mart while the [[Department of Standardized Testing proctor]] is there and she talks to her about how important the school is for the children. Homer continues walking the streets with their parking shame but get caught by the police and accidentally destroy his parking meters. He goes home where Marge discovers the coins which he amassed, and she gets him to throw the money into a wishing well. Bart doing the test but do not have time to answer the last question but an insect is sitting on the right answer when they checking his test on the last question and Bart get's right for it and make the test and the school does not close. Marge thanks the testing proctor for what she now did and she tell her that this was a test of her humanity.
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In town, Homer is in the dumpster containing the thrown out electrical items, where he finds an old parking meter that he brings home. Meanwhile, the students at Springfield Elementary doing their test, and after the test is finished, it is concluded that their school is the worst in the state. The students are preparing to be sent to other schools in the area, when [[Lisa]] finds out that [[Bart]] did not take the test. If he makes the test and passes it, he can raise the results and save the school.
 +
 
 +
Homer begins to skim the residents of Springfield on money using his parking meter. Meanwhile, Bart is studying for the test he will be doing the next day, but falls asleep and hasn't learned anything; he informs [[Seymour Skinner]], who makes it so he gets an extra study day. Back at the Simpson house, Homer is watching the news where they report that the police are chasing the person responsible for a parking meter scam, and Homer realizes that the police are after him. That evening, Lisa notices that Bart is not studying, and she yells at him for being selfish. Bart falls asleep and dreams that the residents of Springfield are stupid and, after he wakes up, he asks Lisa for help. Lisa tells him to answer what he thinks first, and, if he cannot think of something, he should answer "B." Marge visits the Kwik-E-Mart while [[Jennifer Clarkeson]] is there and she talks to her about how important the school is for the children. Homer continues walking the streets with his parking meter, but gets caught by the police and accidentally destroys his parking meter. He goes home, where Marge discovers the coins he amassed, and she gets him to throw the money into a wishing well. Bart does the test, but does not have time to answer the last question, however, an insect sits on the right answer. When they check his test on the last question, Bart gets it correct, and passes the test, meaning the school does not have to close. Marge thanks the testing proctor for what she did, telling her that this was a "test of her humanity."
  
 
== Production ==
 
== Production ==
The music for the [[couch gag]] for this episode was left extremely late in production. On Thursday, January 10 (only 3 days before the episode was set to air), music editor [[Chris Ledesma]] was asked to come up with a new soundtrack for a new couch gag, which was replacing the current couch gag. Chris Ledesma had to start to score the music and get it ready for dubbing in only a few hours.<ref>[http://simpsonsmusic500.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/its-a-poor-workman-who-blames-his-tools/ Simpsons Music 500 - "It’s a Poor Workman Who Blames His Tools"]</ref>
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The music for the [[couch gag]] for this episode was left extremely late in production. On Thursday, January 10 (only 3 days before the episode was set to air), music editor [[Chris Ledesma]] was asked to come up with a new soundtrack for a new couch gag, which was replacing the current couch gag. Chris Ledesma had to start to score the music and get it ready for dubbing in only a few hours.<ref>[http://simpsonsmusic500.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/its-a-poor-workman-who-blames-his-tools/ Simpsons Music 500 - "It's a Poor Workman Who Blames His Tools"]</ref>
  
 
== Reception ==
 
== Reception ==
 
The episode gathered 5.06 million viewers.<ref>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/14/tv-ratings-sunday-golden-globes-up-from-last-year-once-upon-a-time-falls-happy-endings-revenge-dont-trust-the-b-hit-lows/165193/ TV By the Numbers - TV Ratings Sunday: 'Golden Globes' Up From Last Year, 'Once Upon a Time' Falls + 'Happy Endings', 'Revenge' & 'Don't Trust the B' Hit Lows (UPDATED)]</ref>
 
The episode gathered 5.06 million viewers.<ref>[http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/14/tv-ratings-sunday-golden-globes-up-from-last-year-once-upon-a-time-falls-happy-endings-revenge-dont-trust-the-b-hit-lows/165193/ TV By the Numbers - TV Ratings Sunday: 'Golden Globes' Up From Last Year, 'Once Upon a Time' Falls + 'Happy Endings', 'Revenge' & 'Don't Trust the B' Hit Lows (UPDATED)]</ref>
 +
 +
"A Test Before Trying" won the [[2014]] Writers Guild of America award in Animation.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000710/2014/1/ IMDb - "Writers Guild of America, USA 2014 Awards"]</ref>
 +
 +
== International airdates ==
 +
{{Airdates
 +
|UKdate= May 19, [[2013]]; 6pm
 +
|UKchannel=[[Sky1]]
 +
|UKnote=Gathered 756,000 viewers
 +
|esLAdate= May 26, 2013
 +
|esLAchannel= {{W|Fox Latin America|Fox Latin America}}
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|esLAnote=
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|esdate= December 31, 2014
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|eschannel= {{W2|Antena 3|Spain}}
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|esnote=
 +
}}
  
 
== Promotional images ==
 
== Promotional images ==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
File:A Test Before Trying promo 1.jpg|
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File:A Test Before Trying promo 1.png
File:A Test Before Trying promo 2.jpg|
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File:A Test Before Trying promo 2.png
File:A Test Before Trying promo 3.jpg|
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
  
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{{Images|ep=yes}}
 
{{season 24}}
 
{{season 24}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Test Before Trying, A}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Test Before Trying, A}}
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[[Category:2013]]
 
[[Category:2013]]
 
[[Category:Bart episodes]]
 
[[Category:Bart episodes]]
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[[Category:Education-themed episodes]]
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[[Category:WGA Award winning episodes]]
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[[Category:Episodes written by Joel H. Cohen]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Chris Clements]]

Latest revision as of 17:03, August 31, 2024

Season 24 Episode
517 "Homer Goes to Prep School"
518
"A Test Before Trying"
"The Changing of the Guardian" 519
"A Test Before Trying"
A Test Before Trying promo 3.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 518
Season number: S24 E10
Production code: RABF03
Original airdate: January 13, 2013
Title screen: A married Radioactive Man with Libby in his arms flies across the screen.
Billboard gag: Krusty: Live from rehab! 8PM
Chalkboard gag: I will obey Oscar® campaign rules from now on
Couch gag: The Couch: Don't Get Comfortable
Guest star(s): Valerie Harper as Jennifer Clarkeson
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: Joel H. Cohen
Directed by: Chris Clements


"A Test Before Trying" is the tenth episode of season 24 of The Simpsons and the five-hundred and eighteenth episode overall. It originally aired on January 13, 2013, The episode was written by Joel H. Cohen and directed by Chris Clements. It guest stars Valerie Harper as Jennifer Clarkeson.

Synopsis[edit]

"Mr. Burns hikes up electricity prices, leaving most of Springfield unable to afford to use it as much as before. Springfield's schools cannot afford to use it as much either, and they decide to test every single student, and whichever school has the lowest test scores will close. Springfield Elementary gets the lowest test scores, but Lisa discovers that one student did not take the test and the school's fate will rely on his test scores: Bart's to be precise. Meanwhile, Homer uses a parking meter he found at the dump to fleece unwitting parkers of their quarters."


Plot[edit]

Mr. Burns raises electricity prices by 17%. Several residents and businesses in Springfield have to start saving their power. The Simpson family is one, and they decide to throw away some of their household electrical items. Springfield Elementary School is also having problems after the increase in electricity prices, and it is decided that the students of Springfield's district must take a test, and the school with the worst results will be forced to close.

In town, Homer is in the dumpster containing the thrown out electrical items, where he finds an old parking meter that he brings home. Meanwhile, the students at Springfield Elementary doing their test, and after the test is finished, it is concluded that their school is the worst in the state. The students are preparing to be sent to other schools in the area, when Lisa finds out that Bart did not take the test. If he makes the test and passes it, he can raise the results and save the school.

Homer begins to skim the residents of Springfield on money using his parking meter. Meanwhile, Bart is studying for the test he will be doing the next day, but falls asleep and hasn't learned anything; he informs Seymour Skinner, who makes it so he gets an extra study day. Back at the Simpson house, Homer is watching the news where they report that the police are chasing the person responsible for a parking meter scam, and Homer realizes that the police are after him. That evening, Lisa notices that Bart is not studying, and she yells at him for being selfish. Bart falls asleep and dreams that the residents of Springfield are stupid and, after he wakes up, he asks Lisa for help. Lisa tells him to answer what he thinks first, and, if he cannot think of something, he should answer "B." Marge visits the Kwik-E-Mart while Jennifer Clarkeson is there and she talks to her about how important the school is for the children. Homer continues walking the streets with his parking meter, but gets caught by the police and accidentally destroys his parking meter. He goes home, where Marge discovers the coins he amassed, and she gets him to throw the money into a wishing well. Bart does the test, but does not have time to answer the last question, however, an insect sits on the right answer. When they check his test on the last question, Bart gets it correct, and passes the test, meaning the school does not have to close. Marge thanks the testing proctor for what she did, telling her that this was a "test of her humanity."

Production[edit]

The music for the couch gag for this episode was left extremely late in production. On Thursday, January 10 (only 3 days before the episode was set to air), music editor Chris Ledesma was asked to come up with a new soundtrack for a new couch gag, which was replacing the current couch gag. Chris Ledesma had to start to score the music and get it ready for dubbing in only a few hours.[1]

Reception[edit]

The episode gathered 5.06 million viewers.[2]

"A Test Before Trying" won the 2014 Writers Guild of America award in Animation.[3]

International airdates[edit]

Country Date Channel Note
Hispanic America.gif Latin America May 26, 2013 Fox Latin America
800px-Flag of the United Kingdom.svg.png United Kingdom May 19, 2013; 6pm Sky1 Gathered 756,000 viewers
Spain flag.png Spain December 31, 2014 Antena 3

Promotional images[edit]

References[edit]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "A Test Before Trying".
Season 24 Episodes
Moonshine River Treehouse of Horror XXIII Adventures in Baby-Getting Gone Abie Gone Penny-Wiseguys A Tree Grows in Springfield The Day the Earth Stood Cool To Cur, with Love Homer Goes to Prep School A Test Before Trying The Changing of the Guardian Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing Hardly Kirk-ing Gorgeous Grampa Black-Eyed, Please Dark Knight Court What Animated Women Want Pulpit Friction Whiskey Business The Fabulous Faker Boy The Saga of Carl Dangers on a Train